Lawyer: No plea talks on eve of Jerry Sandusky hearing

On the eve of a key court hearing, Jerry Sandusky’s attorney said that no plea negotiations have been held and that the former Penn State assistant football coach is looking forward to facing his accusers in the child sex-abuse case.

View full sizeJerry Sandusky is driven by authorities from Centre County Jail to his College Township home after spending the night in the Centre County jail last week. Sandusky was charged Wednesday with additional counts of sexual abuse of minors.
SARA GANIM, The Patriot-News

Several young men could testify in public for the first time at the hearing, which is expected to last at least a full day Tuesday and perhaps spill into a second day.

At the preliminary hearing, a judge will decide if prosecutors have enough evidence to send the case to trial. It’s almost a given that prosecutors will succeed, since the bar is low and they have detailed the accusations in a 28-page grand jury report.

Defense lawyers sometimes waive preliminary hearings in those circumstances to avoid more negative publicity, but the ex-coach’s lawyer said the defense is eager to hear from the witnesses and gauge the strength of the case.

"We plan to proceed with Jerry’s hearing, and Jerry is looking forward to the opportunity to face his accusers,'' lawyer Joe Amendola said.

Amendola said there had been no plea negotiations, and he wouldn’t say if he would call Sandusky to testify.

Criminal lawyers say there are several things to look for at the preliminary hearing.

The first is the demeanor of the accusers, who must give sensitive testimony in front of 200 people in the courtroom, half of them reporters.

The defense will no doubt try to cast doubt on their stories and question whether they have financial motives for coming forward. Most have hired lawyers and are expected to sue Sandusky — who is not thought to have much in the way of assets — and Penn State, which does.

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